The gifts you want begin to want change as you get older. One year you want the newest video games, toys, and shoes. Then a couple years down the road what you really want is emotional stability, job security, money, and for the debt collectors to never find out where you live. If Santa cannot give you all of that you will settle for a good pair of socks and nice clothes. Where did we lose that ability to shoot for the stars and ask for all that fancy stuff?

I would we say that we lost that joy of consuming when we finally realized that Santa was not real. SPOILER WARNING Santa is not real.. So that jolly guy in that bright red suit in fact does not and cannot exist in this world. I believe in Santa's teaching and overall message of giving and receiving for all the kids but I know he is as real as the Easter Bunny. SPOILER ALERT the Easter Bunny is not real. Well sorry for breaking your childhood innocence but not sorry.

Realizing these tough truths is part of growing up and sheds some of the childish things you worry about into more of the adult things you worry about. As you grow up, you begin to realize that the video games, toys, and shoes are minor in the grand scheme of things. Those things that you wanted 4 years ago or even a year ago are 2000 and late. There is always some new video game, toy, or shoe that will be out in the market while the older stuff sits in the corner. You begin to slow down on ask for a lot of stuff and start thinking about the stuff you really want and need.

Then as you grow ever closer to being a true adult and realize that you have to start giving gifts, paying bills, and being a true citizen of the world want you really want for yourself isn't tangible anymore. Gifts are great but having a full wallet seems a lot better. The spirit of Christmas becomes a lot more real and personal to you. You start wanting to spend a little time with your family and loved ones as you smell the Christmas tree. So, yes you may have lost your childhood wonder of getting the best gifts for Christmas but as you got older you realize the best gifts can't always be wrapped.

P.S. It may be the same for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or other holidays. I don't know but I hope you can feel the same holiday spirit as I do.

Some gifts come right back around, coloring books are da best